On Tuesday night, President Obama was met with a standing ovation after mentioning in his State of the Union address that women shouldn't get paid less than men, that policies that don't promote pay equality are from the "Mad Men era." Turns out, Presidents have been promising to lift women out of the Mad Men era since, uh, well before the Mad Men era.

The first mention of equal pay during a State of the Union address came from — shock of shocks — a Republican, President Dwight D. Eisenhower, in 1956. And, in 1963, when the fictional Don Draper was busy gallivanting with liberated brunettes behind his suburban housewife Betty's back, President John F. Kennedy was signing the Equal Pay Act. Ever since then, Presidents have issued oratory overtures to the concept of equal pay, but to this day, full economic equality eludes women. It's almost like Presidents sometimes promise things to get women to vote for them with no intention of ever following up on those promises.

1956

Legislation to apply the principle of equal pay for equal work without

discrimination because of sex is a matter of simple justice. I earnestly urge

the Congress to move swiftly to implement these needed labor measures.

-

President Dwight D. Eisenhower

1963

President John F. Kennedy signs the Equal Pay Act.

Thus fixing everything!

1979

We remain committed to improving our labor laws to better protect the rights of American workers. And our Nation must make it clear that the legal rights of women as citizens are guaranteed under the laws of our land by ratifying the equal rights amendment.

1980

We move into the 1980's with confidence and hope and a bright vision of the America we want: an America strong and free, an America at peace, an America with equal rights for all citizens— and for women, guaranteed in the United States Constitution...

-President Jimmy Carter

1981

Even though we have made progress, much remains on the agenda

for women. I remain committed to the Equal RightsAmendment and will

continue to work for its passage.

- President Jimmy Carter

The Equal Rights Amendment has failed in every subsequent legislative session.

1982

Our concern for equal rights for women is firm and unshakable.

We launched a new Task Force on Legal Equity for Women, and a 50-

states project that will examine state laws for discriminatory language.

-
President Ronald Reagan

Reminder: President Reagan was a Republican.

1983

Our commitment to fairness means that we must assure legal and

economic equity for women, and eliminate, once and for all, all traces of

unjust discrimination against women from the United States Code. We will

not tolerate wage discrimination based on sex, and we intend to strengthen

enforcement of child support laws to ensure that single parents, most of

whom are women, do not suffer unfair financial hardship. We will also take

action to remedy inequities in pensions. These initiatives will be joined by

others to continue our efforts to promote equity for women.

-President Ronald Reagan

If Ronald Reagan were a Republican Congressman in 2014 walking around saying shit about equality, he'd probably lose out to a Tea Partier in a primary.

1984

Opportunities for all Americans will increase if we move forward

in fair housing and work to ensure women's rights, provide for equitable

treatment in pension benefits and Individual Retirement Accounts...

-President Ronald Reagan

1999

And let's make sure that women and men get equal pay for equal

work by strengthening enforcement of equal pay laws.

-President Bill Clinton

Yes, let's. Let's do this 15 years ago.

2000

We also can't reward work and family unless men and women get

equal pay for equal work. Today, the female unemployment rate is the

lowest it has been in 46 years. Yet, women still only earn about 75 cents

for every dollar men earn. We must do better, by providing the resources

2010

It should be noted that the first act Obama signed into law as President was the Lily Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, which isn't nothing.

2012

You see, an economy built to last is one where we encourage the

talent and ingenuity of every person in this country. That means women

should earn equal pay for equal work.

-President Barack Obama

2013

And I ask this Congress to declare that women should earn a living

equal to their efforts, and finally pass the Paycheck Fairness Act this year.

-President Barack Obama

Months later, the Republican-controlled House of Representatives would block the Paycheck Fairness Act.

2014

Women deserve equal pay for equal work.

You know, she deserves to have a baby without sacrificing her job. A mother deserves a day off to care for a sick child or sick parent without running into hardship. And you know what, a father does too. It is time to do away with workplace policies that belong in a "Mad Men" episode.

- President Barack Obama

Great stuff, Presidents! But American women, who still make almost across-the-board less than their male counterparts, would probably appreciate a little less conversation and a little more action around this. No one can feed their children with lip service about Equal Pay from the Mad Men era.